New Jersey Devils (26-20-7)
The New Jersey Devils lock horns with the New York Rangers tonight, all while trading as the decisive road underdogs across sports betting platforms. Bet365 sends the Devils into this game as the +150 road underdogs while Heritage offers the highest money line odds for the straight up win at +160. Unanimously, NHL odds makers hang the game on a +1.5-point puck line but with the Devils favored to cover anywhere from -198 (Heritage) to -210 (BetCris).

The Devils are riding a two-game losing streak into this clash, which includes back-to-back shootout losses to Toronto and Washington. The Devils can take some confidence from having played both sides close, particularly the high-flying Capitals. Nevertheless, they’ll be looking to stem the bleed in tonight’s grapple in the apple.

Overall, the Devils boast a 26-20-7 mark on the season, which includes a 12-10-4 mark at home and a 14-10-3 mark on the road. In their last ten games they are 5-3-2 but they’ve won just four of their last ten away games.

New York Rangers (27-18-6)
The New York Rangers are riding a two-game winning streak into Monday’s clash with the Devils, which includes wins over Minnesota and Philadelphia. The recent run of form has the Rangers improving to a 6-4-0 record in their last ten games.

The Rangers are sat second in the Metropolitan division with a 27-18-6 mark but they are a remarkable 17 points behind the Washington Capitals in the standings. That’s largely down to their rivals’ stellar form this season. Importantly, the Rangers strike a convincing pose at home with a 19-5-2 record, which is underscored by a four-game winning streak at home that goes back to a 4-3 OT loss to none other than the Capitals on January 9. Indeed they won eight of their last ten home games, both losses going to the Capitals.

Betting Verdict
These two sides are enjoying contrasting fortunes in the last few days but in the broad picture of the Metropolitan division only four points separate them. That fact puts a huge premium on the win. Given the Rangers’ solid home form, it’s no surprise they are the significant favorites to win outright, trading anywhere from -168 to -170 across sports betting platforms. In fact, they are the popular NHL pick to come through in ML markets.

Where the puck line is concerned, the Devils emerge as the faves to cover as the +1.5-point road underdogs and come across as the popular NHL pick. That fact is underscored by their two previous meetings with the Rangers, both of which were won by the Rangers but only by a goal each time. As well, recent defeats were narrow. Still, we’re of a mind to go against the grain and take the Rangers to cover as the 1.5-point home chalk.